Fifteen years ago, a home security camera cost thousands of dollars and required a criminally minded electrician to install. Today, a 4K AI-powered camera costs $30 and tells you when a specific person—or even a specific pet—is on your lawn.
This accessibility has created a cultural shift. We have moved from a society of "look the other way" to a society of "record everything."
This is the golden rule of surveillance. You can record anything visible from a public space (the sidewalk) or your private property. However, you cannot record places where a person has a "reasonable expectation of privacy." Fifteen years ago, a home security camera cost
Places you CAN record:
Places you CANNOT record (legally):
Most privacy violations are not caused by a peeping tom neighbor hacking your Wi-Fi. They are caused by corporate data mismanagement.
When you buy a cheap "cloud-based" camera (e.g., Wyze, Blink, early Ring models), you are agreeing to Terms of Service that often allow the company to share your video with law enforcement without a warrant, or with "data partners." Places you CANNOT record (legally): Most privacy violations
When researching home security camera systems and privacy, use this checklist to vet your purchase and installation.